Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop workforce and education strategies in response to the growth of AI-native businesses with minimal staff.

The government is taking steps to prepare the workforce for the future through its Industrial Strategy. We are ensuring that skills and employment support are aligned with key economic priorities, including transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

The Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy will set out plans to build a system that provides the skills that learners need to thrive in work and life and supports delivery of the Plan for Change.

Digital skills are embedded across occupational standards, influencing T-Levels, Higher Technical Qualifications, and apprenticeships. From April 2026, new short courses will be introduced in England in areas such as digital and AI, funded by the Growth and Skills Levy.

Skills England has released three data-driven reports to support decision-making and development of targeted training solutions. These will ensure that skills provision meets economic needs, including in sectors most affected by AI, and will shape sector-specific packages responding to future workforce demands.